The Duke’’s Course at Woburn Golf and Country Club, scene of some of the most memorable European Tour events over the past three decades, will provide the setting for a new chapter to be written later this month, when it plays host to The Heritage from September 23-26.
Originally it had been the Marquess Course which had been earmarked to host the new €2,000,000 tournament, underwritten and promoted by IMG. However, having suffered a severe and prolonged attack of anthracnose disease over the last two weeks, which initially led to a loss of grass on the greens but which is now firmly under the control of the greenkeeping staff, the Marquess Course stepped aside to allow the Duke’’s Course to take centre stage.
“We are very lucky indeed to be playing The Heritage at Woburn Golf and Country Club, because it affords us the opportunity of three wonderful championship golf courses to choose from,” said David Garland, Director of Tour Operations at The European Tour. “We are very grateful to The Duke of Bedford and everyone at Woburn for their co-operation and understanding which has allowed us to continue to stage the event there.
“We would have loved to have played The Heritage tournament on the Marquess Course but if that is not to be, then I am sure our Members will relish a return to the Duke’’s Course which The European Tour has visited regularly since the late 1970s.
“It is a superb golf course and one glance at the list of players who have won there – a list which includes Major Champions Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Greg Norman, Lee Trevino and Ian Woosnam – pays testimony to its quality.
“We must also thank promoters IMG for their flexibility in being able to re-plan and rebuild their staging operation at this late stage.”
Eddie Bullock, Managing Director of Woburn Golf and Country Club, said: “As hosts to this unique tournament, we are delighted to now accommodate the event on our Duke’’s Course where we have just concluded an exciting Seniors Tour event – the Bovis Lend Lease European Senior Masters – which proved to be a huge success for all concerned and one from which the course, again, emerged with immense credit.
“We look forward to welcoming all the professionals and visitors to Woburn for what is sure to be another wonderful golfing spectacle.”
Information on The Heritage and the support packages available can be obtained by contacting Lucy Hutton at IMG on 020 8233 5000 or by email: lhutton@imgworld.com
